Eskom Chair Mpho Makwana Sparks Fury for Saying South Africans Must Celebrate Lower Stages of Loadshedding

• The Chairperson of Eskom Mpho Makwana set tongues wagging with some outlandish comments about loadshedding
• Makwana said that South Africans should celebrate lower stages of loadshedding and not just complain about Stages 7 and 8
• The Eskom chair's comment set citizens on edge, who interpreted them to mean South Africans should be grateful when loadshedding is lowered

JOHANNESBURG - Eskom Chair Mpho Makwana's tone-deaf comments about loadshedding have caused a wave of fury across South Africa.

Citizens were taken aback when Makwana said that South Africans should celebrate lower stages of loadshedding as much as they complain about Stage 7 and 8 rolling blackouts.

Makwana was speaking on Newzroom Africa when he said:

“If we want this thing to change, celebrate those things that people like [Eskom's head of generation] Thomas Conradie are fixing, celebrate those things [Eskom's power station manager] Bheki Nxumalo at Eskom road tech industries are fixing, then we encourage them to do more.”

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Eskom slightly reduces loadshedding down to Stages 3 and 4

South Africans got a break from Stage 5 loadshedding on Tuesday, 14 March, when the ailing power utility announced the country would alternate between Stages 3 and 4 from Wednesday.

The loadshedding schedule went down by a stage because Eskom reportedly recovered generation capacity over 48 hours. There will be alternation between Stage 3 and Stage 4 loadshedding until further notice, TimesLIVE reported.

South Africans hit back at Eskom chair for loadshedding comments

South Africans could not contain their anger and frustration at Makwana and flooded social media with comments criticising the Eskom chair.

Below are some reactions:

@Marttwit slammed:

"Outrageously insensitive to the hardships caused by rolling blackouts euphemistically called loadshedding."

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@rtait1 said:

"I only celebrate excellence."

@DJThabi marvelled:

"The whole Eskom chair says we should celebrate loadshedding."

@4KobusWiese asked:

"Really? This must be a joke and he can not be serious! Don't know what is more insulting, him making such a statement or being chairperson?"

@Hendri90459614 added:

"Then Eskom can celebrate the payment of my electricity bill when I pay only a 3rd of it."

@OliverMc66 exclaimed:

"Absolutely not! I’m not a lawyer but surely Eskom is in breach of contract."

@KRBNARE4 said:

"We should celebrate lower stages. This oke talks as if he's doing us a favour."

@higglz joked:

"Ah ah ah. A chairperson on Eskom said this? Is it April Fool's already? Have I been in a coma all this time??"

Eskom loadshedding leaves 4-year-old stuck in elevator with mom, SA moved as they share McDonald’s to keep calm

In another story, Briefly News reported that a child was brave when she got stuck in an elevator with her mum. The mother and daughter were sitting in the dark, thanks to Eskom.

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People reacted to the footage of them eating, talking and singing to stay calm. People remarked that they were happy that the little girl had a responsible mom.

A video by @amanda_mkh TikTok shows a daughter reacting to being stranded in an elevator. The lady in the video ensured her child stayed happy during a scary experience as they had McDonald's ready to go.

Source: Briefly News